Hunted: The Demon’s Forge isn’t going to win any awards for originality or for its looks, that for sure. That being said, what it does provide though is a mediocre action adventure game that can be enjoyed by most gamers willing to overlook the somewhat dated presentation and flawed execution. For me the game is good for a quick and somewhat enjoyable diversion. In the end Hunted is far from the perfect co-op game or fantasy dungeon crawl, but the storytelling almost makes up for it.

This game is a mash-up of a few successful ideas but as a finished product it never quite adds up to the sum of its parts. You may well find it fun to blast through in co-op, but don’t expect it to leave you with any lasting memories.

Whether you see it as a fantasy-slanted Gears homage or a punched-up and streamlined dungeon-crawler, the end result is roughly the same: Hunted is an adequate diversion for co-op aficionados, but little more.

Hunted adds one little bonus morsel in the form of the Crucible mode, which lets you create and share survival challenges (much like the Trials of St. Lucia downloadable content for Dante's Inferno). While solidly executed, this idea of slicing through further groups of familiar opponents with even less narrative motivation just didn't offer much appeal after I'd wrapped up the one-note campaign. Whether you see it as a fantasy-slanted Gears homage or a punched-up and streamlined dungeon-crawler, the end result is roughly the same: Hunted is an adequate diversion for co-op aficionados, but little more.

It’s recommended you either rent it or wait for a price drop, because there’s really not much replay value to be be found for most types of gamers. If you do give it a chance and dislike it at first, give it a bit of time because it gets better as you progress and will probably end up growing on you. Hunted isn’t a bad game or a great game. It’s a game that hovers over mediocrity, but has some charm that will keep some gamers interested and invested.

It’s recommended you either rent it or wait for a price drop, because there’s really not much replay value to be be found for most types of gamers. If you do give it a chance and dislike it at first, give it a bit of time because it gets better as you progress and will probably end up growing on you. Hunted isn’t a bad game or a great game. It’s a game that hovers over mediocrity, but has some charm that will keep some gamers interested and invested.

It’s recommended you either rent it or wait for a price drop, because there’s really not much replay value to be be found for most types of gamers. If you do give it a chance and dislike it at first, give it a bit of time because it gets better as you progress and will probably end up growing on you. Hunted isn’t a bad game or a great game. It’s a game that hovers over mediocrity, but has some charm that will keep some gamers interested and invested.

People have been asking me about Hunted: The Demon's Forge a lot. It's odd blend of cover-based shooting, a fantasy setting, and hot co-op action make it an eyebrow-raiser, but the execution is flawed. If you're desperate to play something with an equally desperate friend, Hunted: The Demon's Forge might surprise you. But there are better multiplayer games out there, and some of them have just as many elves and dragons as this one.

People have been asking me about Hunted: The Demon's Forge a lot. It's odd blend of cover-based shooting, a fantasy setting, and hot co-op action make it an eyebrow-raiser, but the execution is flawed. If you're desperate to play something with an equally desperate friend, Hunted: The Demon's Forge might surprise you. But there are better multiplayer games out there, and some of them have just as many elves and dragons as this one.

People have been asking me about Hunted: The Demon's Forge a lot. It's odd blend of cover-based shooting, a fantasy setting, and hot co-op action make it an eyebrow-raiser, but the execution is flawed. If you're desperate to play something with an equally desperate friend, Hunted: The Demon's Forge might surprise you. But there are better multiplayer games out there, and some of them have just as many elves and dragons as this one.

It should be made clear that these references to ‘fun’ and enjoyment’ strictly apply to the co-op mode of the game, which thankfully is Hunted’s main selling point. In terms of playing the game alone, even though the partner AI in the game is surprisingly not-crummy, it definitely pales in comparison. As a corridor, hallway, dungeon, and other linear path based action game, the design of the levels themselves aren’t exactly memorable nor are the bland visuals that vary between looking pretty-good to looking like a game from at least five years ago. And in that sense the game really is only worth playing in co-op, where the fluid controls, half decent mechanics, some basic teamwork, and mindless action elevates what is decidedly mediocre into something that although average, can be a lot of fun.

All told, Hunted offers a modicum of playing pleasure on a slow weekend, but a rental would be safer than a purchase. The visuals seem dated in a few spots, and in fact, the game sounds better in most areas than it looks. The music is particularly strong, probably one of the few things that Hunted gets right, but scarcely enough to warrant a purchase. Irksome gameplay and unpolished graphics keep Hunted grounded in the realm of “decent at best.” With so much potential, it seems a more serious execution could offer better things in the future.

The Hunted: The Demon’s Forge is a poor attempt at a video game that really has no clue what path it wants to go down. Gameplay is a total mess from the poor covering mechanics to the pointless weapon pickups. I found myself getting pissed off by the minute when playing this title and still to this point I can’t believe I played it. Pass on this title, only worth a look when it hits bargain bins, which shouldn’t take too long.

Hunted: The Demon’s Forge has plenty of great ideas, all of which are buried deep below a number of poorly implemented mechanics that hinder the experience substantially. While there is a varied mix of melee action and cover-based shooting, there’s a tone of glitches and execution problems. To top it off, the finishing moves interfere with the gameplay, while the ugly colour palette leaves the game looking dull and unimaginative. The potential was there with Hunted, as can be seen in the game’s decent co-op. However, too many glitches and poorly executed mechanics make it a difficult game to recommend.